Inflatable panel assembly for storage bins



July 28 1953 w. R. VINCENT 2,646,905

a INFLATABLE PANEL ASSEMBLY FOR STORAGE BINS v I Filed Nov. l, 1950 H260, /l /801 ,feo f da K- -lf T llfx| Patented July 28, V1953 INFLATABLE PANEL ASSEMBLY FOR STORAGE BINS Walter R. Vincent, Hudson, Ohio, assignor to The B. F. Goodrich Company, New York, N. Y., a

corporation of New York Application November 1, 1950, Serial No. 193,322

6 Claims. (Cl. 222-200) This invention relates to inflatable apparatus for storage receptacles for flowable solid material and especially to an inflatable panel assembly for acting on the contained material.

When owable non-liquid Or solid material, especially a nely-divided or pulverized or pow dered material, is `contained in a storage receptacle of the -bin or hopper type having, for example, a conical bottom or sloping walls, the finely-divided and sometimes damp material tends to stick to the Walls such that it forms a compacted mass blocking the space within the Walls and thus making it diicult to maintain uniform ovv through the `discharge opening of the storage bin.

Prior inflatable constructions having an ordi- 'nary rubber sheet marginally attached by overlying metal strips and bolts directly to the conical walls have not entirely eliminated sticking of the contained material; inasmuch as the amplitude of pulsating movement of the rubber Sheet under cyclical inlation has been deficient and also, relatively high stretchability and uniformity of stretching have been lacking because of the restraining action of the bolted marginal attachment. The prior inflatable devices due largely to these deficiencies have not prevented the formation of a tightly packed arch of the contained material where the walls converge toward the bottom discharge opening,` that is the zone of blocking. Such arching causes objectionably interrupted `or irregular flow from the bin. Also, in bins having the prior inflatable devices on parallel, vertical side walls above thev conical bottom of the bin, the devices have not entirely `prevented sticking or packing of the contained material on the side walls, which sticking or packing produced a condition known as funneling or piping resulting in restricted or irregular ilo-w.

Objects of the invention are to provide'an improved iniiatable panel assembly for storage receptacles; to provide for extensive inflating movement under cyclical inflation of the panel assembly; to provide for preventing eliectively arching and funneling of the contained material; to provide for preventing caking of the contained material; to provide for maintaining substantially regular or steady discharge iiow from the storage receptacle; to provide for a wide range of frequency, force, and amplitude of pulsation of the panel assembly; to provide for effecting positive, large-amplitude movement of the contained material; to provide for resistance to abrasion .and aging and to harmful substances 2 tending to cause failure of the panel assembly; and to provide for simplicity of construction, convenience of manufacture and installation, and for effectiveness of operation.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification,

Fig. l is a central, vertical sectional view showing inflatable panel assemblies mounted on converging walls of a storage receptacle and constructed in accordance with and embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of an inflatable panel assembly.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view in an enlarged scale showing a marginal edge construction of the assembly, parts being broken away.

The inflatable panel assembly for a storage receptacle 30 shown in the drawings has a base or mounting structure I0 of steel, aluminum alloy or other suitable stiff metal material or of reinforced or unreinforced plastic material having the desired imperviousness, strength rand stiiness characteristics. The mounting structure I0 of sheet-like form may 'be of suitable thickness for stiffness and of suitable shape such, for example, as rectangular and ilat, and at its outer or lower face Illa, may have four spaced-apart attaching fittings II, II, desirably tubular and interiorly threaded to receive -bolt fasteners (not shown). The ttings are spaced inwardly relative to the edges I2, I3, I4, and I5 of the inner or upper face I0?) of the mounting structure and disposed adjacent the corners thereof, as shown especially in Figs. 2 and 3, and secured to the mounting, preferably by Welding.

The mounting structure I0 at its lower face I0a and Icentral region has an air-connection fitting I6 of threaded, tubular construction suitably secured thereto in communication with the inner or upper face I 0b of the mounting and also in communication with an air-distributing slot or shallow groove lI'I in the upper face. The slot I'I, desirably, extends centrally and longitudinally away from opposite sides of the fitting I6 and terminates short of the ends of the mounting I0 to facilitate the passage of inflating -air into the assembly.

An elastic distensible element or sheet covering I8 which constitutes a support for the flowable solid material deposited in the storage receptacle, is marginally secured to the mounting structure I at its lower face Ia, as shown especially in Fig. 4, and extends continuously between all marginal edges I2 to I5, inclusive, of the mounting II] in overlying, separated or unu attached relation to the upper face Ib entirely across the same from edge to edge thereof to provide an inflatable pocket. The element i8 is made of resilient rubber, natural or synthetic, or other rubber-like material and, desirably without woven textile fabric or other stretch-resisting reinforcing material substantially throughout the distensible area of the element I8 overlying the upper face Illb between the marginal edges I2 to I5 and stretch-resisting marginal portions ISa, I8a of the element. The arrangement facilitates maximum freedom and uniformity of stretching of the resilient material of the distensible area of the element I8 in all directions 4between the marginal edges I2 to I5 and facilitates the rapid elastic recovery or return of the element.

The distensible element i8 has the stretch'- resisting marginal portion isa, Ete thereof folded or continued over the marginal edges i2 to I5 so as to extend inwardly from the edges along the lower face iii-c of the mounting lo a sufficient distance to provide attaching margins is to 22, inclusive, of suitable width disposed on the lower face or back of the mounting it. The attaching margins I9 to 22 only of the element I8 are securely bonded in fluid-tight or airtight, sealing relation to the metal face itc of the mounting lo as by a suitable rubber cement 23 for facilitating extensive distension of the eiement, under inflation of the assembly, with little or no hindrance to the distension by reason of the attachment. The element i8 is normally i. e. the deflated condition of the assembly, in a condition of little or no stretch between the marginal edges. The construction provides an inflatable pocket in the space between the mounting it and element I8 and makes feasible the desired extensive inflation, distension and uniformity of stretch of the highly stretchable distensible area of the element I8 between the stretch-resisting marginal portions la, I8a.

The elastic distensible element i8, in the preferred construction, may have an outer layer is of substantially uniform stretchability thickness constructed of suitable material having good resistance to abrasion and aging and to deterioration from oils, acid, chemicals and other harmful substances. A relatively thin, inner layer E5 of substantially uniform stretchability and thickness and constructed of suitable resilient rubber material of good bonding characteristics which is coextensive and integrally united throughout with the outer layer 24, is desirably provided to facilitate bonding the distensible element I8 at its attaching margins I9 to 22 to the mounting lil.

A stretch-resisting, exible reinforcement 2t such, for example as woven fabric of cotton, nylon, rayon, wire or other filamentary material is preferably sandwiched between and integrally bonded to the inner and outer layers 24, 2li throughout the peripheral extent of the marginal portions Ita, 8@ of the element i8. The rein forcement 2B is folded entirely about the marginal edges I2 to I5 of the mounting it, but terminates at the inner side margin 280i which is disposed at a position closely adjacent and spaced a short distance inwardly of the edges at the inner face lilb of the mounting IEB. Thus, the marginal portions I 8a, 18a including the ilf/Qh" resilient rubber resisting reinforcement 23 constitute the boundaries of the highly stretchable, distensible area of the element I8.

The opposite marginal portions i3d, 58a resist objectionable stretching and tearing thereof about the edges of the mounting le; but offer little or no restraint to the extensive inflating distension of the element i3 substantially from edge to edge across the upper face it?) and to substantially the shape and position indicated by br lines at 43 in Figs. l and 8. Also, they offer little or no resistance to the elastic recovery and return of the element I8 from its "l'stendcd, stressed condition to its normal con n of stretch and to its normal pos adjacent the upper face itt of as shown especially in Fig. 3.

The rubber and fabric parts of canization under heat and pressure and, if desired, prior to the assembly cf the element with the mounting.

The inatable panel assembly sale as an independent unit and i" installation in a storage receptacle or e for example, as shown in. Fig. l. storage bin for flowable solid material may its walls Si, 32 sloping or inclined toward one another, either throughout its lower part only or, as shown in the drawings, throughout all the vertical extent of the walls, to provide a bottom discharge opening at 33 of the bin. Suitable valve means 3Q is mounted across the discharge opening at s3 to control the flow of the contained material, the open position of the means 3E; being indi` broken lines in Fig. l. A wheeled cart or other suitable receiver 35 for the discharged material may be disposed below the discharge opening at 33.

At the zone adjacent the discharge opening 33 where sticking and blocking of the cont -ned material generally tends to occur, a ity of the inatable panel assemblies arranged opposed relation to one another, may be attached as shown especially in Fig. l, to the opposite, sloping walls 3l, 32 of the bin as by suitable bolt fasteners (not shown) engaging the walls and the attachment ttings il, il of the respective panel assemblies. The panel assemblies are connected by conduits 3l, 33 to an inflation control means 36 for effecting cyclical inflation and deflation. The inflation control means includes an exhaust port 39 for exhausting air to the atmosphere during the deflation phase of the cycle, and the means 35 may be connected through a conduit 40 and manually controlled valve to a compressed air receiver e2, as shown in Fig. l.

In the operation of the plurality of panel assemblies, assuming the valve Li! to be open, air under pressure from the tank i2 is admitted to the panel assemblies in a cyclical manner by the functioning of the inflation control means 313 so as to inflate in alternation or simultaneously the distensible elements I8, i3 of the assemblies to approximately semi-circular shapes in cross-section and to substantially the positions indicated by broken lines at 43 in Figs. 1 and 3, and to deate in alternation or simultaneously the distensible elements I8, I8, the elastic recovery of the resilient rubber material being utilized to return the distensible elements I3, I3 to their normal position shown in full lines in Figs. l and 3, immediately adjacent the upper faces lilb, Iiiby of the mountings IU, IIJ.

The high stretchability and uniformity of stretching of the distensible area or portion of the element I8` between the reinforced marginal portions thereof make feasible utilizing a wide range of frequency, force, and amplitude of pulsation of the respective inflatable panel assemblies to accommodate various kinds of contained materials within the bin and to compel discharge of the contained material even though the material forms a tightly packed arch bridging and blocking the discharge opening at 33. Each element I8 distends toward the opposite distensible element I8 and coacts therewith to agitate positively the supported, intervening contained material and break the arch of contained material at the zone of blocking.

When the panel assemblies are deiiated, the broken arch is left unsupported and the material falls. Continuity of pulsating movement thus produced by the cyclical ination and defiation of the panel assemblies destroys the arches of the contained materials as fast as they form. Also, it has been found that when the inflatable panel assemblies are operated at low rates of pulsation or inflation, they prevent caking of contained materials which tend to harden during storage.

In storage bins having vertical, substantially H parallel wall portions wherein contained material may tend to stick or hang-up on the vertical walls and create an empty funnel through the center region of the bin i.e. cause funneling, the inatable panel assemblies may be mounted on the vertical wall portions to produce positive, large-amplitude movement of the material for effecting positive discharge of the material with each pulsation and thus eliminate the funneling. Y The inatable panel assemblies advantageously facilitate an even ilow of the contained material from the discharge opening at 3S of the storage bin and also prevent effectively arching or funneling of the contained material. They eliminate restricted, interrupted or irregular flow of material from the storage bins. A further advantage is that they protect the metal walls of the bins, especially at the conical region thereof, against abrasion, wear and other damage from the contained material.

Variations may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as it is described in the following claims.

I claim:

1. An inflatable panel assembly for individual mounting as a whole within a storage receptacle, said panel assembly comprising a mounting structure of stiff material for disposition internally of a walled storage receptacle in attached relation to a supporting member of the receptacle, said mounting structure having a face extending to peripheral edges there-of for facing toward the interior of the receptacle, a distensible element of elastic sheet-like material overlying and extending throughout the area of said face bounded by said peripheral edges to provide a support for iiowable solid material deposited in the receptacle, said element having marginal portions extending over said face to said edges and continuing about said edges laterally thereof and attached in sealing relation t-o said structure at a zone thereof in proximity to said face thereof and said element being in unattached outwardly movable relation to said face throughout said area thereof to provide therewith an inatable pocket, a stretch-resisting flexible reinforcement integral with said marginal portions and extending about said edges laterally thereof and terminating a short distance inwardly of said edges at said face to reinforce said marginal portions while accommodating extensive inflating distension of 6, said element to an-outwardly bulged shape from edge to edge acrosss said face of said mounting structure, said element within the area thereof bounded by said marginal portions including elastic material of relatively high stretchability as compared to that of said reinforcement for facilitating said extensive inflating distension of said element to effect substantial positive movement of the supported flowable material under inflation and deflation of saidpanel assembly so as to prevent packing and sticking of the owable material in the receptacle, and conduit means integral with said panel assembly in communication with said inflatable pocket for facilitating the inflation and deflation of said panel assembly.

2. An inflatable panel assembly for individual -mounting as a wh-ole within a storage receptacle,

said panel assembly comprising a mounting structure of stiff material for disposition internally of a walled storage receptacle in attached overlying relation to a supporting member of the receptacle, said mounting structure having a lower face for disposition near-est the supporting member and an upper face extending to peripheral edges of said structure for facing toward the interior of the receptacle, a distensible element of elastic sheet-like material overlying and extending throughout the area of said upper face bounded by said peripheral edges to provide a support f-or flowa'ble solid material deposited in the receptacle, said element having marginal portions extending over said upper face to said edges and continuing about said edges laterally thereof and attached in sealing relation to said lower face adjacent said edges and said element being in unattached outwardly movable relation to said upper face throughout said area thereof to provide,V therewith an inflatable pocket, a stretchresisting flexible reinforcement of textile material in and united with said marginal portions and extending about said edges laterally thereof and terminating a short -distance inwardly of said edges at said upper face to reinforce said marginal portions while accommodating extensive inflating distension of said element to an outwardly bulged form from edge to edge across said upper face of said structure, said element within the area thereof bounded by said marginal portions including elastic material of relatively high substantially uniform stretchability as compared to that of said reinforcement for facilitating said extensive inating distension of said element to effect substantial positive movement of the supported flowable material under ination land deflation ofsaid panel assembly so as to prevent packing and sticking of the contained flowable material in the receptacle, and conduit means having a passage extending through said structure to said upper face thereof in communication with said inflatable pocket for facilitating the iniiation andA deflation of said panel assembly.

" 3. An inflatable panel assembly for individual mounting as a whole within a storage receptacle, said panel assembly comprising a sheet-like mounting structure of stiff material for disposition internally of a walled storage receptacle in attached overlying adjacent relation to a supporting member of the receptacle, said mounting structure having a lower face for disposition nearest the supporting member and a generally flat upper face extending to peripheral edges of said structure for facing toward the interior of the receptacle, a distensible element of elastic sheet-like material overlying and extending throughout the area of said upper face bounded by said peripheral edges to provide a support for flowable solid material deposited in the receptacle, said element having marginal portions extending over said upper face to said edges and continuing about said edges laterally thereof and overlapping in part said lower face in attached sealing relationthereto and said element being in unattached outwardly movable relation to said upper face throughout said area thereof to provide therewith an inflatable pocket, said marginal portions having integral therewith a flexible reinforcement of stretch-resisting textile fabric sheet material extending about said edges laterally thereof and terminating a short distance inwardly of said edges at said upper face to `reinforce said marginal portions while accommodating extensive inating distension of said element to an outwardly bulged form from edge to edge across said upper face of said structure, said element within the area thereof bounded by said marginal portions consisting of resilient rubber material of relatively high substantially uniform stretchability as compared to that of said reinforcement for facilitating said extensive inating distension of said element to effect substantial positive movement of the supported owable material under inflation and deflation of said panel assembly so as to prevent packing and sticking of the flowable material in the receptacle, and a conduit extending through said mounting structure to said upper face in communication with said inflatable pocket for facilitating the inflation and deflation of said panel assembly.

4. An inflatable panel assembly for individual mounting as a whole within a, storage receptacle, said panel assembly comprising a mounting structure of stiff dat plate material and polygonal shape in plan for disposition internally of a walled storage receptacle in attached overlying adjacent relation to a supporting member of the receptacle, said mounting structure having a lower face for disposition nearest the supporting member and a flat upper face extending to peripheral edges of said structure for facing toward the interior of the receptacle, a distensible element of elastic sheet-like material and polygonal shape overlying and extending throughout the area of said upper face bounded by said peripheral edges to provide a support for iiowable solid material deposited in the receptacle, said element having marginal portions extending over said upper face to said edges and continuing about said edges laterally thereof and overlapping in part said lower face in attached sealing relation thereto and said element being in unattached outwardly movable relation to said upper face throughout said area thereof to provide therewith an inflatable pocket and being in unattached relation to said edges, said marginal portions having imbedded therein a flexible reinforcement of stretch-resisting woven textile fabric sheet material extending about said edges laterally thereof and terminating a, short distance inwardly of said edges at said upper face to reinforce said marginal portions while accommodating extensive inflating distension of said element to an outwardly bulged form from edge to edge across said upper face of said structure, said element within the area thereof bounded by said marginal portions consisting of resilient rubber material of relatively high substantially uniform stretchability as compared to that of said reinforcement for facilitating said extensive inflating distension of the element to effect substantial positive movement of the supported owable material under inflation and deiiaticn of said panel assembly so as to prevent packing and sticking of the flowable material in the receptacle, and a conduit through said structure to said upper face in communication with said inatable pocket for facilitating the inflation and deflation of said panel assembly.

5. An inflatable panel assembly as denedin claim 4 in which said distensible element of sheetlike form consists of a thick protective outer layer of resilient rubber material having abrasion and age-resisting characteristics and superimposed directly upon an inner layer of resilient rubber material having good bonding characteristics, and has said stretch-resisting woven textile fabric sheet material between said outer layer and said inner layer at said marginal portions, both said layers and said fabric sheet material being integrally bonded one to the other throughout said distensible element, and in which said mounting structure has a shallow groove 1 in and extending along said upper face and intersecting said conduit for distributing the inflating medium along said upper face to said inflatable pocket.

6. An inflatable panel assembly as defined in claim 4 in which said mounting structure Vis of stiliF metal plate-like material and rectangular shape in plan and has a plurality of spaced-apart attaching fittings at said lower face and spaced inwardly from said peripheral edges of the structure, and said distensible element is of rectangular shape in plan with said marginal portions substantially overlapping said lower face and terminating short of said attaching fittings and being sealingly bonded to said lower face.

WALTER R. VINCENT.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Date 

